Normal service resumed by Comini

Beaten yesterday by his team-mate Niccolo Nalio (Oregon Team), it did not take Stefano Comini (Oregon Team) long to get back to his winning ways. But the Swiss had to fight hard to overcome Bas Schothorst (TDS Racing), who led for most of the race. David Dermont (TDS Racing) won again in the Gentlemen Drivers category to record another podium and consolidate his third place in the championship .

For the eighth time in eight races this season, Stefano Comini occupied pole position. He was joined on the front row by Bas Schothorst. The Dutchman made a perfect start and took command of the race ahead of Stefano Comini and Niccolo Nalio (Oregon Team). David Dermont was fourth, ahead of his teammate Wim Beelen, who had shot up from eighth on the grid.

Comini wasted no time and immediately sought an opening to pass Schothorst. Behind the front five, Peter Peters (Equipe Verschuur) and Gregory Guilbert (Team Lompech Sport) were driving the peloton. But in their fight for sixth place, the two men made contact. Peter Peters was able to get going again, but then he was involved in another collision, this time with Michael Munemann (Algarve Pro Racing), forcing both men to retire.

At the front of the field, Schothorst was holding off the two Oregon Team drivers, Comini and Nalio. There is strength in unity, and by attacking together Comini and Nalio were able to pass Schothorst at the same time. This relegated the Dutchman to third, but a few laps later he was able to move up to second when Nalio span off after a daring attack on the race leader, his teammate Stefano Comini. Prior to the pitstops, Comini led from Schothorst, Dermont and Nalio.

But the leadership of the race changed hands in the pits. Comini struggled to get away, and once he did he was just behind Schothorst. Dermont was in third place, more than six seconds behind the leading two, but the Belgian was able to control his lead ahead of Nalio in fourth.

Stefano Comini waited patiently for an opening and was rewarded three minutes before the end of the race. His unstoppable attack set him up for his seventh win of the season. Schothorst attempted to regain the lead on the final lap, but in the end settled for the points available for second place. Third overall, David Dermont completed yet another win in the Gentlemen Drivers category.

Drivers’ comments: Stefano Comini: “Both races this weekend were fun. It was very hard to get the better of Bas Schothorst today. He fought well before and after the pitstop. I’ve now won seven races this season, equalling Dimitri Enjalbert’s record. Now I just have to beat it and win the title.”

Bas Schothorst: “I made a good start and I fought with Stefano all race long. We had a little contact at the start of the race, but I got ahead in the pits. Yesterday in qualifying I damaged my rear tyres so I had no rear tyres today. It’s not my season. Yesterday I had no luck, but the reason I didn’t win today is because I made a small mistake at the end and Stefano took advantage.”

David Dermont: “It’s the fourth year I’ve been here. I had my first top-five finish here, but since then I’ve always been unlucky. This was a good weekend, as I got two podium finishes. I’m now reconciled with the track. Niccolo Nalio came back at me a bit towards the end of the race, but generally we had nothing to worry about today.”